I got a can of MB Cowboy Lager to use up, Pilsen DME, some liberty and Hallertau hops and a pack of Wyeast American Lager yeast. I originally thought of making a plain easy drinking lager but im thinking if im going through the trouble make something tasty. Maybe a vienna-ish lager or an Oktoberfest like lager. Been thinking of something like Modelo Negra actually but thats not really the correct yeast for something like that.

Any other ideas, maybe a hoppier lager like Sam Adams Boston Lager...not clones just similar flavor profiles. What would be some new steeping grains to try or maybe even a partial mash.

I'd hit it with some C60, Carapils and 2 row if you want the partial mash. leave out the 2 row if you just want to steep. You could also use vienna or munich instead of 2 row OR caravienne or caramunich and just steep it. That's my thoughts.

Kind of brewing along those lines today, Kenny. I've got some Pilsen DME, Pilsen LME, and harvested Wyeast-2007 Pilsen Lager. I'm throwing that together with a little Melanoidin and some Tettnang to brew (although not to style) a Helles. Everything is to style except the yeast, but that just happens to be what I have on hand.

A Boston Lager-ish beer actually sounds pretty good. The Cowboy, DME, and C-60 should give you close to that profile. I'm still considering a little Hallertau late hopping (maybe dry hopping) in today's brew although that is nowhere near "to style".

or you could simply use the ingredients that you named, and get the OG high enough to end up with a 5.5% abv beer, and use the liberty to add some bitterness, and the hallertau late to add your flavor and aroma...

this would put you right along the lines of the new Sam Adams Alpine Spring. which, if you haven't had it, is very tasty! it is definitely quaffable (despite its solid ABV) and is a unique (IMO) lager based beer. it is a tad sweet and toasty, and the hops add a floral and citrus layer that pairs quite nicely with the malts.

modelo it is not but it is "different" enough to keep your brew day interesting I think

Good point.

A lager brewed today won't be ready until mid April or mid May. What will you want to be drinking then?

Great ideas as usual...i like the hoppier lager idea. Boston Lager is dry hopped so I would like to try that. Im thinking the Cowboy, DME, some crystal and maybe some caramunich or something. Do a 30 min hop boil if needed, with a touch of late hops and then the dry hop. Should make for a nice drinking beer for the warmer weather.

I think you won't even need the hop boil...maybe a short one for some extra flavor/aroma, if anything.

Maybe a vienna/caramunich mini-mash?

I think ill keep to steeping on this, but Caravienne is an awesome malt, I might use some of that or Caramunich and some carapils. Ill see how the IBUs look in Qbrew, I think a little bittering might be needed.

I usually get inspiration for lager recipes from this:

That might work for Light Lagers...you know "pissing the night away".

Northern Brewer has a kit called John Q. Adams Marblehead Lager that I believe is an attempt at a Boston Lager clone. Not that it is what you're aiming for, but you wouldn't want to accidentally brew what you don't want. You probably wouldn't "accidentally" hit that hop bill though.


MASH INGREDIENTS
-- 9.25 lbs. Rahr 2-row
-- 0.75 lbs. Briess Caramel 60


BOIL ADDITIONS & TIMES
-- 0.5 oz. Hersbrucker (60 min)
-- 0.5 oz. Tettnang (60 min)
-- 0.5 oz. Hersbrucker (30 min)
-- 0.5 oz. Tettnang (30 min)
-- 0.5 oz. Hersbrucker (15 min)
-- 0.5 oz. Hersbrucker (0 min)

Wow, real simple grain bill. I always imagined Boston Lager having some Munich or vienna or something...maybe a bit more like a vienna lager. It must be that decoction mash producing that richer, fuller profile.

Hop schedule looks nice, but yeah that woulndt be accidental. Sounds about right for what I taste in sam adams.